New York City elevated railway illustration, 19th century

An 1889 illustration of a steam locomotive with passenger cars on an elevated railway in New York City, USA. This railway, originally called the IRT Ninth Avenue Line, was opened in 1868, using single-track cable-powered cars. However, the cable system proved problematic and steam locomotives were introduced on 20 April 1871. Later, of course, electric traction was used universally.  It was the first of the lines that came to make up the New York City Subway system.